Mountable retractable screen unit

ABSTRACT

A self-contained, retractable screen unit that may be mounted to any railing system, fence or existing structure to provide additional safety and security.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the design and construction of a novel, self-contained, retractable screen unit that may be mounted to any railing system, fence or existing structure to provide additional safety and security.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retractable screens exist in various forms serving various functions and are well known in the prior art. Conventionally and ubiquitously, retractable screens that are capable of being mounted to railings, fences or existing structures have been used for the limited purpose of providing decoration and privacy by screening off areas that would otherwise be open to view. The benefit these types of retractable screens provide is that they are typically simple to form and relatively inexpensive. However, as a result, retractable screens are also typically flimsy when extended and can easily be pushed forward with very little force, thus providing no security or safety effect.

Historically, the answer to safety and security concerns has been to build fences or railing systems around dangerous areas. The prior art has developed to where fences themselves are now capable of being retracted at times when the fences are not necessary or desired. Although fences and railing provide a degree of safety by preventing people and objects from entering a restricted area, they do not address the inherent dangers posed by the fences and railings themselves. For example, children or small pets have been known to become lodged in or pass over fences and railings causing serious harm and even death. Moreover, fences and railings are capable of being compromised over time or during adverse weather conditions, which has led to the unexpected collapse of fences and railings while people were leaning on the structures.

Clearly there is a need for a self-contained mountable, retractable screen unit that is capable of providing a sturdy, yet inexpensive barrier between a railing, fence or existing structure and persons, animals or other objects that may become lodged or pass over or through these structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive structure presents a number of advantages over the prior art. First, the invention is simple to form. The retractable screen unit includes a housing unit made in various shapes and of suitable materials, preferably PVC or rust resistant metal. The housing unit contains a tension rod. The tension rod is utilized to draw out and retract the screen from and to the housing unit. The tension rod also has securing means that allow the tension rod to secure itself to an additional housing unit. The tension rod is capable of being removed and replaced with another tension rod. This feature eliminates the need to replace an entire housing unit in the event the tension rod and/or screen needs to be replaced.

The additional housing unit may be empty to serve only the purpose of securing the retractable screen, or the additional housing unit may contain another screen to allow the screened area to be extended. Each housing unit also contains a locking means, which locks the screen in place when the screen is extended to prevent slack in the event force is applied directly to the screen. In the preferred embodiment, the locking means is a metal strap that surrounds the outside of the housing unit. The metal strap has two prongs with plastic extended buttons on one prong and open holes on the other prong, which connect and grasp the screen between the prongs. This provides another distinct advantage over the other relatively simple, inexpensive prior art in that the locking means provides additional security and safety by preventing the screen from being pushed forward.

A mounting device mounts directly to railings, fences or existing structures. Each housing unit is secured to extenders that extend out several inches from the mounting device to allow room between the retractable screen and the railing, fence or existing structure. This is an additional advantage over the prior art in that it provides an additional barrier between people, animals or other objects and the hazards posed by fences, railings, or existing structures. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting device is an aluminum adjustable support arm with non-skid backing. The support arm has pre-cut key hole slots for mounting and may also have pre-defined holes for use of a Velcro Bra to provide additional unit support.

The screen may be made of suitable, durable materials, including sunscreen fabric, Vinyl or other weather resistant fabric for exterior use and non weather resistant materials for indoor use, which are durable and may not be easily ripped or torn. The screen may also be removable from the tension rod and replaceable with another screen. This feature provides the advantage of not having to replace the entire housing unit should the screen need to be replaced for wear or aesthetic reasons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a view of the housing unit with a partially retracted screen according to the embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is a view of multiple housing units with partially retracted screening and hooks reflecting the extendable nature of the unit over the length of a fence or railing structure.

FIG. 3 is a view of the support arm structure, according to the embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 is a view of the support arm structure in position to accept a housing unit for mounting on a fence or railing structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Shown in FIG. 1 is the housing unit (1) comprising a tension rod (2), the screen (3), wound on the tension rod, and hooks (4) attached to the screen to secure the screen when extended into position along a railing or fence structure.

Multiple housing units may be combined, as reflected in FIG. 2, to extend along a railing or fence structure with each housing unit (1) providing a means to engage the screen (3) of an adjacent housing unit by securing the hooks (4).

When the screen is extended, the screen may be locked into place, as shown in FIG. 5. The locking device (10) is secured around the outside of the housing unit (1). The locking device (10) has at least one prong (11) with extended buttons (13) and at least one prong (12) with corresponding holes (14) to allow the prongs to connect.

The housing unit (1) is secured to extenders (7) on the support arm structure (5), such as that reflected in FIG. 3. The support arm structure (5) has pre-cut key hole slots (6) for mounting.

As shown in FIG. 4 the support arm structure (5) is secured to a railing or fence structure (8) by securing means such as screws, bolts, adhesive or any other similar or equivalent structures. The housing unit (1) is secured to the extenders (7) by securing means (9) attached to the outside of the housing unit (1). 

1. A retractable screen unit for use with any railing, fence, or existing structure, the unit comprising: A housing unit; A tension rod within said housing unit; A screen wound on said tension rod so that said screen can be wound out of said housing unit through an opening therein; A mounting device; Securing means for securing said housing unit to said mounting device; and Mounting means to affix said mounting device to any railing fence or existing structure.
 2. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 and further comprising a locking means for locking said screen in position when extended from said housing unit so as to prevent slack from allowing said screen to push forward while extended from said housing unit.
 3. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said housing unit is made of PVC or rust resistant metal.
 4. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said tension rod has securing means that allow the tension rod to secure itself to an additional housing unit.
 5. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said tension rod is capable of being removed and replaced with another tension rod.
 6. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises: An aluminum adjustable support arm, which may be adjustable in height from 18″ to 30″ with extension arms that are adjustable from 2½″ to 4″ extended.
 7. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises an aluminum adjustable support arm, which may be adjustable in height from 18″ to 30″ with extension arms that are adjustable from 2½″ to 4″ extended and a support arm including pre-cut keyhole slots for mounting said support arm to a railing or fence structure.
 8. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises an aluminum adjustable support arm, which may be adjustable in height from 18″ to 30″ with extension arms that are adjustable from 2½″ to 4″ extended, a support arm including pre-cut keyhole slots for mounting said support arm to a railing or fence structure and pre-defined holes for mounting of a “Velcro Bra” for securing said mounting means to a railing or fence structure.
 9. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises an aluminum adjustable support arm, which may be adjustable in height from 18″ to 30″ with extension arms that are adjustable from 2½″ to 4″ extended, a support arm including pre-cut keyhole slots for mounting said support arm to a railing or fence structure, pre-defined holes for mounting of a “Velcro Bra” for securing said mounting means to a railing or fence structure and a non-skid backing placed on the mounting surface of said support arm to aid in securing said mounting means to a railing or fence structure.
 10. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said screen is made of sunscreen fabric or vinyl with a minimum material length of 4½ feet long.
 11. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said screen contains graphics for ornamental display.
 12. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said screen contains a textual or graphical display.
 13. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said housing unit incorporate lights into or upon its structure.
 14. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said screen incorporates lights into or upon its structure.
 15. A retractable screen unit as described in claim 1 wherein said screen is capable of being removed from said tension rod and replaced with another screen. 